Method and apparatus for attaching a supported addition to a finished building

ABSTRACT

A self sealing spacer is disclosed for use within a hole drilled within the exterior side portion of a finished building&#39;s wall exposing a structural frame therein to provide an attachment point for a supporting structural member of an addition to the finished building with a screw comprising a) a socket portion having a peripheral sidewall having spaced sealant openings therearound, and a bottom side wall which seats on the structural frame of the finished building, said bottom sidewall having a central axial opening therethrough; and, b) a plug portion mated to fit within the socket portion, said plug portion also having an axial central opening therethrough. When sealant is positioned within and on the bottom side wall of the socket portion prior to mating the plug portion therein, then when the supporting structural member of the addition is attached to the structural frame and the screw extends and tightens through the central openings, sealant is forced through the spaced peripheral openings therearound thereby sealing both the building wall, and the spacer within the building wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to solidly attaching an added structure such as adeck, a deck cover, or a shed to the structural frame of an existingbuilding. More particularly this invention relates to using a selfsealing spacer which attaches to the structural frame on one of itsends, sealably spaces beyond and attaches to the siding of the finishedbuilding on its central portion, to thereby provide a solid point ofattachment for a new structure on its other outer end portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When an added structure such as a deck, a deck cover, or a shed has anattached side which is carried by a finished building it is necessary tosolidly attach the added structure to the frame of the existingbuilding. To provide a solid point of attachment it is necessary toremove the finished exterior wall covering on the finished building. Inresidences the structural frame of the existing building comprises wood.Typically lag bolts are used to attach the added structure to thestructural frame of the existing building. For adequate attachment it isnecessary that asphalt sheathing, insulative polyurethane boards, andexterior facing (whether it be vinyl siding or stucco) be removed priorto attaching the supporting structure of the addition. The problem withremoving a portion of the exterior wall of the existing building is thatit presents a breech in the integrity of the finished building. Theopening must be subsequently closed, preferably insulated, andpermanently sealed against the elements. Reliably sealing the opening isnot only an initial concern, but all too often it requires ongoingmaintenance.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to disclose a simple and effectivemethod of attaching an addition to the structural frame of an existingbuilding. It is an object of this invention to disclose an apparatus andmethod of attachment which minimally breeches the existing structure'swall thereby eliminating the need for initial repair and ongoingmaintenance. It is yet a further object of this invention to disclose aself sealing point of attachment to the existing building's structurefor the structure of the addition. It is a final object of thisinvention to disclose a method and apparatus which is not only extremelyeffective but maximally convenient and time saving to use.

One aspect of this invention provides for a self sealing spacer isdisclosed for use within a hole drilled within the exterior side portionof a finished building's wall exposing a structural frame therein toprovide an attachment point for a supporting structural member of anaddition to the finished building with a screw. The self sealing spacercomprises: a) a socket portion having a peripheral sidewall havingspaced sealant openings therearound, and a bottom side wall which seatson the structural frame of the finished building, said bottom sidewallhaving a central axial opening therethrough; and, b) a plug portionmated to fit within the socket portion, said plug portion also having anaxial central opening therethrough. When sealant is positioned withinand on the bottom side wall of the socket portion prior to mating theplug portion therein, then when the supporting structural member of theaddition is attached to the structural frame and the screw extends andtightens through the central openings, sealant is forced through thespaced peripheral openings therearound thereby sealing both the buildingwall, and the spacer within the building wall.

In another aspect of this invention a method of attaching a supportingstructural member of an addition to a finished building comprising thesteps of: a) removing an exterior portion of the finished building'swall to expose the structural frame of the finished building thereunder;b) inserting a spacer having a bottom side portion to seat on thestructural frame, and a peripheral side portion adjacent to the exteriorportion of the finished building's wall, said spacer having a centralaxial opening therethrough, and a height generally similar to athickness of the removed exterior portion of the finished building'swall; and finally, c) attaching the supporting structural member of theaddition to the structural frame of the finished building using anattachment member having a central portion extending through the axialopening in the spacer. The supporting structural member is therebyspaced and solidly attached to the structural frame of the finishedbuilding.

Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a self sealingbuilding spacer. Waterproof sealant is positioned in a bottom portion ofthe spacer socket.

FIG. 2 is a broken out perspective view of a finished building wallhaving spaced large holes drilled therein. The large holes are drilledthrough an exterior portion of the building wall to expose thesupporting frame of the finished building. Spacers are inserted andclosely received within the large holes.

FIG. 3 is the broken out perspective view of the finished buildingexterior wall shown in FIG. 1 further comprising a structural memberattached to the finished building structural framework thereunder. Lagbolts positioned through the addition structural member, continuingthrough central holes provided in the spacer plug and socket portions,finally are threaded within the structural frame beneath the exteriorbuilding wall.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view of an exterior building wallhaving a structural frame which comprises a floor joist. Sealant ispositioned in a bottom portion of the holes.

The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specificembodiments of this invention, such being made with reference to thedrawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate thesame or similar parts and/or structure. It should be noted that suchdiscussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 we have anenlarged exploded perspective view of a self sealing building spacer 20.Waterproof sealant 15 is positioned in a bottom portion of the socketportion 22 of the spacer 20. FIG. 2 is a broken out perspective view ofa finished building wall 18 having spaced large holes 16 drilledtherein. The large holes 16 are drilled through an exterior portion ofthe building wall 18 to expose the supporting frame 14 of the finishedbuilding. Spacers 20 are inserted and closely received within the largeholes 16. A self sealing spacer 20 for use within a hole 16 drilledwithin the exterior side portion of a finished building's wall 18exposing a structural frame 14 therein to provide an attachment pointfor a supporting structural member 10 of an addition with a screw 32comprises: a) a socket portion 22 having a peripheral sidewall havingspaced sealant openings 26 therearound, and a bottom side wall 28 whichseats on the structural frame 14 of the finished building wall 18, saidbottom sidewall 28 having a central axial opening 21 therethrough; andb) a plug portion 24 mated to fit within the socket portion 22, saidplug portion 24 also having an axial central opening 21 therethrough.When sealant 15 is positioned within and on the bottom side wall 28 ofthe socket portion 22 prior to mating the plug portion 24 therein, thenwhen the supporting structural member 10 of the addition is attached tothe structural frame 14 and the screw 32 extends and tightens throughthe central openings 21, sealant 15 is forced through the spacedperipheral openings 26 therearound thereby sealing both the buildingwall 18, and the spacer 20 within the building wall 18.

FIG. 2 is a broken out perspective view of a finished building wall 18having spaced holes 16 drilled therein. The holes 16 are drilled throughan exterior portion of the building wall 18 to expose the supportingframe 14 thereunder. Spacers 20 are inserted and closely received withinthe holes 16. Typically the finished building's wall 18 is drilled outleaving a cylindrical hole 16 therein. The spacer 20 is generallycylindrical and has an diameter selected to mate within the cylindricalhole 16. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the self sealingspacer 20 is provided with a breakable packet 30 of sealant 15positioned within and on the bottom side portion of the socket portion22 so that when the plug portion 24 is tightened therein the packet 30bursts open and the sealant 16 is squeezed through the peripheralopenings 26 therearound thereby sealing the spacer 20 within the hole16. Alternatively the sealant 16 may be positioned within the socketportion 22 from a caulk tube of sealant 15. In another preferredembodiment of the invention the spacer 20 further comprises a doubleadhesive sided tape 32 having one sticky side attached to the exteriorbottom side of the socket portion 22 and the other side having aremovable cover 34, so that when the cover 34 is removed the spacer 20will be retained when seated on the structural frame 14 at the bottom ofthe hole 16.

FIG. 3 is the broken out perspective view of the finished building'sexterior wall 18 shown in FIG. 1 further comprising a structural member10 attached to the finished building's structural framework 14 using alag bolt 32 positioned through the structural member 10, continuingthrough central holes 21 provided in the spacer plug portion 24 andsocket portion 22, and finally threaded within the structural frame 14beneath the exterior building wall 18. Most generally a method ofattaching a supporting structural member 10 of an addition to a finishedbuilding's exterior wall 18 comprises the steps of: a) removing anexterior portion of the finished building's wall 18 to expose thestructural frame 14 thereunder; b) inserting a spacer 20 having a bottomside portion seated on the structural frame 14, and a peripheral sideportion adjacent to the exterior portion of the finished building's wall18; said spacer having a central axial opening 21 therethrough, and aheight generally similar to a thickness of the removed portion of thefinished building's wall 18; and finally, c) attaching the supportingstructural member 10 of the addition to the structural frame of thefinished building 14 using an attachment member 30 having a centralportion extending through the axial opening 21 in the spacer 20. Thesupporting structural member 10 is thereby spaced and solidly attachedto the structural frame 14 beneath the wall 18.

Most preferably the finished building's siding 19 is drilled 17 outleaving a cylindrical hole 16 and the spacer 20 is generally cylindricaland has an diameter selected to mate within the cylindrical hole 16.Waterproof sealant 16 is applied to seal the spacer 20 within thecylindrical hole 16 prior to attaching the supporting member 10 of theaddition. Usually the attachment member 30 comprises a screw 32, andmost preferably the screw 30 is a lag bolt 34.

Most preferably the general method further comprises the step ofapplying a waterproof sealant 16 to seal the spacer 20 within thecylindrical hole 16 prior to attaching the supporting member 10 thereto.When the spacer 20 is a self sealing spacer 20 as most generallydescribed above the sealant 16 may be applied from a caulk tube 15 intothe socket portion 22 of the spacer 20. Alternatively, if the selfsealing spacer 20 further comprising a breakable packet of sealant 16positioned within and on the bottom side portion of the socket portion22 then when the plug portion 24 is tightened therein the packet 30bursts open and the sealant 16 is squeezed through the peripheralopenings 26 therearound thereby sealing the spacer 20 within the hole16.

And similarly when the self sealing spacer 20 further comprises a lengthof double adhesive sided tape 32 having one sticky side attached to theexterior bottom side of the socket portion 22 and the other side havinga removable cover 34 then, when the cover 34 is removed the spacer 20will be retained when seated on the structural frame 14 at the bottom ofthe hole 16.

FIG. 6 is an exploded cross sectional view of an exterior building wall18 having a structural frame 14 which comprises a floor joist 12.Sealant 15 is positioned in a bottom portion of the holes 16 so that itwill seal spacers 20 in the holes 16 upon assembly. In most applicationsof the spacer disclosed herein the finished building wall 18 has a frame14 comprised of wood and the supporting structural member 10 attachedthereto comprises a board of dimension lumber.

While the invention has been described with preferred specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description isintended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention,which is defined by the following claims.

1) A self sealing spacer for use within a hole drilled within theexterior side portion of a finished building's wall exposing astructural frame therein to provide an attachment point for a supportingstructural member of an addition to the finished building with a screwcomprising: a) a socket portion having a peripheral sidewall havingspaced sealant openings therearound, and a bottom side wall which seatson the structural frame of the finished building, said bottom sidewallhaving a central axial opening therethrough; b) a plug portion mated tofit within the socket portion, said plug portion also having an axialcentral opening therethrough; so when sealant is positioned within andon the bottom side wall of the socket portion prior to mating the plugportion therein, then when the supporting structural member of theaddition is attached to the structural frame and the screw extends andtightens through the central openings, sealant is forced through thespaced peripheral openings therearound thereby sealing both the buildingwall, and the spacer within the building wall. 2) A self sealing spaceras in claim 1 wherein the finished building's exterior wall is drilledout leaving a cylindrical hole and wherein the spacer is generallycylindrical and has a diameter selected to mate within the cylindricalhole. 3) A self sealing spacer as in claim 2 further comprising abreakable packet of sealant positioned within and on the bottom sideportion of the socket portion so that when the plug portion is tightenedtherein the packet bursts open and the sealant is squeezed through theperipheral openings therearound thereby sealing the spacer within thehole. 4) A self sealing spacer as in claim 3 further comprising a lengthof double adhesive sided tape having one sticky side attached to theexterior bottom side of the socket portion and the other side having aremovable cover so that when the cover is removed the spacer will beretained when seated on the structural frame at the bottom of the hole.5) A method of attaching a supporting structural member of an additionto an exterior wall of a finished building comprising the steps of: a)removing an exterior portion of the finished building's wall to exposethe structural frame thereunder; b) inserting a spacer having a bottomside portion seated on the structural frame, and a peripheral sideportion adjacent to the exterior portion of the finished building'swall, said spacer having a central axial opening therethrough, and aheight generally similar to a thickness of the removed exterior portionof the finished building's wall; and finally, c) attaching thesupporting structural member of the addition to the structural frame ofthe finished building using an attachment member having a centralportion extending through the axial opening in the spacer; therebyspacing and solidly attaching the supporting structural member to thestructural frame beneath the exterior wall. 6) A method as in claim 5wherein the finished building's wall is drilled out leaving acylindrical hole and wherein the spacer is generally cylindrical and hasan diameter selected to mate within the cylindrical hole. 7) A method asin claim 6 wherein the attachment member comprises a screw. 8) A methodas in claim 6 wherein the attachment member comprises a lag bolt. 9) Amethod as in claim 5 further comprising the step of applying awaterproof sealant to seal the spacer within the cylindrical hole priorto attaching the supporting member thereto. 11) A method as in claim 2wherein the plug is as described as in claim
 1. 12) A method as in claim2 wherein the plug is as described as in claim
 3. 13) A method as inclaim 2 wherein the plug is as described as in claim
 4. 14) A method asdescribed in claim 11 wherein the finished building wall has a framecomprised of wood and wherein the supporting structural member attachedthereto comprises a board of dimension lumber.